Chief worried over chieftaincy feud

Senio Chief Mwankhunikira has expressed concern over the Tumbuka Paramount Chikulamayembe chieftaincy wrangle, saying it is intolerable in the Tumbuka culture.

Speaking at Mchenga wa Henga Heritage celebrations on Saturday, the chief, who is also chairperson of the Mlindanyifwa Cultural Heritage, appealed to traditional chiefs to lead people in different development activities rather than wasting time in wrangles.

 Speaking at the celebrations, acting Paramount Chief Chikulamayembe said he is serving as interim chief while waiting for someone in their clan to take over the chieftaincy.

The chief (real name Mtima Gondwe) said it is surprising that there are people who do not want him to be a paramount.

He said he has been acting for eight months and sees nothing that can prevent him from becoming the next chief following the death of his father last November.

In an interview, group village head Kawazamawe of Rumphi said the deceased chose his son to take over the chieftaincy as a tradition.

“All chiefs agreed and asked him to resign from the civil service and, surprisingly, some changed their mind claiming the chieftaincy rotates in the clan as was the case during colonial rule,” he said.

Kawazamawe added that it would be good to effect the rotation after Mtima Gondwe’s rule. However, group village head Bongololo Gondwe, citing Jekeya, Mjuma, Gonapamhanya and Nkhonjera as some in the lineage, said it is their culture for the chieftaincy to rotate in the clan.